Ted Chudleigh column - Ontarians are reaping the rewards of dithering Dalton.

July 2006

The central focus of civil authority in our society has long been to provide peace, order and good government.

Most recently the McGuinty Liberals have demonstrated abysmal governance by failing to provide neither peace in Caledonia, nor order among the various lawbreakers.

The Liberal’s ostrich approach to the crisis in Caledonia only emboldened the native protesters into ever more extreme actions in order to gain the government’s attention. Now thousands of people’s lives have been negatively affected, millions of dollars have been lost, and most importantly the rule of law, the very basis of our civil compact with each other, has been severely damaged.

All of this has occurred simply because the McGuinty Liberals lack the fortitude to take direct, necessary and determined action to execute their most fundamental duty as a government – the maintenance of civil authority.

So far the McGuinty Liberals have simply thrown your money at the Caledonia problem that they created, by failing to deal with it for more than 100 days.

The Liberal’s handling of the Caledonia situation was entirely, and sadly predictable.

In the last year Ontario has lost thousands of high paying manufacturing jobs but Dalton has done little to stop the outflow, except throw money at the problem by creating a $500 million fund to subsidize businesses and entice them to stay in Ontario. He could have reduced corporate taxes to levels which would keep us competitive with surrounding jurisdictions, but he didn’t. Instead of saving every business some money he used your money to entice only a few businesses threatening to leave.

The Liberals are dithering on Oakville’s hospital funding. Sure they manage a good news announcement every six months or so, but is there a shovel in the ground? We need to see more than empty promises.

Dithering simply does not lead to success. The crush of people in Oakville is overwhelming the hospital. The only result is less than adequate health care in Oakville. Despite the monetary enticements manufacturing jobs are still leaving Ontario.

All the while the native agitators have thumbed their noses at the administration of justice. No matter what the final payment is; no matter what the terms and conditions that are agreed to, this is not over. Emboldened by their success native agitators will simply move the goalposts and make further demands until those tactics are proved unsuccessful.

More than one hundred days of Liberal dithering in Caledonia and there has been no resolution of any issues as the negotiations for final dispensation of the land are on-going.

Liberal dithering has produced a payout to the land developers, a transfer of abut 250 acres of other land to Six Nations, some financial aid to affected area residents and businesses, and near anarchy in Caledonia. It has produced a recession in the manufacturing sector and it has not improved health care in Oakville.